Great green blob covers Chinese waters

By Wilfred Chan, for CNN

Updated 1646 GMT (2346 HKT) July 7, 2013

Swimming in slime6 photos

Swimming in slime – Tourists swim in seawater covered by a thick layer of green algae on July 3, 2013 in Qingdao, China. A large quantity of non-poisonous green seaweed, enteromorpha prolifera, hit the Qingdao coast in recent days.

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Swimming in slime6 photos

Swimming in slime – For the seventh year in a row, monstrous quantities of green algae have sprouted in the coastal waters near Qingdao.

Swimming in slime – Tourists play at a beach covered by a thick layer of green algae on July 3 in Qingdao.

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Swimming in slime6 photos

Swimming in slime – Chinese officials have blamed past algae outbreaks on unusually warm seas. But scientists say that agricultural waste, industrial pollution, and human sewage are often to blame.

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Swimming in slime6 photos

Swimming in slime – A file photo from the 2008 cleanup. A researcher says that algae does not typically cause health problems, but skin inflammation may be a risk. "If you were stupid enough to go in, I wouldn't go in naked," said Dr. Christopher Bolch, of the University of Tasmania.

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Story highlights

Coastal waters near Qingdao covered with 28,900 sq km of green algae

Largest outbreak seen by local officials, doubling previous record in 2008

Scientist says algae is caused by pollution and sewage in water

Algae 'generally not harmful' to humans, but scientist urges caution

For years, China has talked about promoting "green growth." But this probably isn't what they had in mind.

For the seventh year in a row, monstrous quantities of green algae known as enteromorpha prolifera have sprouted in the coastal waters near Qingdao, China. But this year's growth, covering 28,900 square kilometers (11,158 square miles), is the biggest outbreak ever recorded, state-run news agency Xinhua reported. The previous record was 13,000 square kilometers (5019 square miles) in 2008.

Swimmers and beachgoers were pictured frolicking among the stringy piles of slime, while bulldozers attempted to scoop it away.

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According to Bolch, massive algae blooms feed off of high levels of nitrites and phosphates in the water, which typically comes from agricultural waste, industrial pollution, or human sewage from highly populated areas.

Enteromorpha is "fairly benign," said Bolch, but can harm marine ecosystems. Algae blocks sunlight from reaching aquatic life, reduces oxygen levels, and emits bacteria when the algae dies and rots.

Similar but more dangerous types of aquatic growths, such as phytobacteria or dinoflagellates, can produce harmful toxins and posion people. "They should consider themselves quite lucky that it's not one of those," said Bolch.

Chinese state media reported that the seaweed began proliferating on June 5, and that local governments had "taken measures" to minimize the impact to marine ecosystems. Officials reported that they had removed around 7,335 tons of algae.

Bolch said enteromorpha typically does not cause health problems in humans, but "large concentrations of anything can be problematic."

There could be a risk of skin inflammation, said Bolch. "If you were stupid enough to go in, I wouldn't go in naked."